Electric stop motion for axminster looms



Dec. 12, 1944. w, Y ROBE, 2,365,008

ELECTRIC STOP MOTION FOR AXMINSTER LOOMS Filed April 15, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l I 5/ a5 FZMEL W l7 Dec. 12, 1944. w, ROBE; 2,365,008

ELECTRIC STOP MOTION FOR AXMINSTER LOOMS Filed April 15, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 102 O {a SNUWM Patented Dec. 12, 1944 UNITED STATE PATENT" OFFICE ELECTRIC STOP MOTION-FOR AXMINSTER 'LOOMS Application April 15, 1944, Serial'No. 531,233

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in Axminster looms and it is the general object of the invention to provide electrically operated stopping mechanism which either stops the loom if the tube frame fails to leave its transfer station orpermits the loom to continue running if the tube frame reaches a position which it should occupy for continued loom operation.

Axminsterlooms operate with a series of tube frames moved by transporting chains one by one to transfer station from which they are lowered to tuft'formin'g position by transfer arms. If for any reason'the active tube frameis not detached from "the transporting chains it cannot move down to the cloth and "a blanksPaoe-will be left in the fabric. It is 'anrim portant object of my present invention to provide electrically operating means by which the loom can be stopped if "the 'tube frame failsto reach tuft forming position atitsallotted-time iii-the cycle of loom operations. "These means may include switchesone of which is "actuated by atransfer arm an'd'the other of which is under'control of "regularly moving "part 'of the loom, such as a cam on the 'loomshaft.

When weaving A-xminsterrugs one-after another it'is'customaryto provide an untufted heading between successiverugs. When-these headings arebeing'woven allcparts of the loomfunction normally except the tube frame. It has been common practice heretofore to remove the tube "frame from the transfer arms during the heading operation "toprevent theformation of tu'fts. desirable to have a tubeframe in-the transfer arms during theheading operation, one of these conditions resultingfrom'the use of electric stop motion switches in the transfer arm clutches. When these'switches-areusedthey must be kept open by a tubeframe to permit continued loom running, but presence of the :tube frame requires that someprovision be-made toprevent it from reaching tuft forming, position. To accomplish this result a "supporting hook or the like may-be employed to hold the tube frame in'an 'intermediate "position between fthe transfer station and the tuft forming-position. 'It is another object of my present'invention to provide stop mechanismf for Jan Axminster loom which will operate as previou'slvstated to stop the loom if the tube framefai'ls'to'reach tuft forming position but will permit the'weaving of a heading when the tube'frame is in the aforesaid-intermediate position.

In" the normal operation of the transfer arm Under certainconditions, however, it isduring the tuft forming operation the clutches which hold the tube frame are rocked with respect-to the arms in order to give the tube frame the necessary rolling-in movements required to place the tuft yarns correctly for tuft formation. Breakage would result if the tube frame were connected to the transporting chains during the time in which the clutches normally rock, and it is for this reason that the transfer arms and-tube frame must be away from thepullover shaft during the clutch-rocking period. By hold.- ing the'arms inan intermediate position the tube frame can .be given its rolling-in movements 'withoutdanger of breakage at thepull-over shaft or incorporation ofthetuft yarns into the fabric.

With these and other objects in View which will :appear .as the description proceeds, my in vention resides in the combination and arrangement of .parts hereinafter describedand set forth.

:lntheaccompanying drawings, wherein a convenientembodimentof myinvention is set forth,

Fig. .1 is aside 1elevation of part of an Axminster loom having my invention applied thereto, certainxparts ei s sh wni s t V gFig.z-2;is adetailedfront elevation of the loom stopping mechanism looking in the direction of arrow 12,.Fis. 1,

Fig. 3is1a diagrammaticview setting forth the stopping circuit-used with my invention,

Fig. 4is an enlarged front elevation looking in .the direction of arrow 4, Fig. 1, showing the transfer arm supporting hookand the means by 1 which the pull-over shaft feed mechanism is moved into neutral position,

;F ig. 5 isan enlarged view of a part of Fig. 1 showing theutransfer arm held in the aforesaid intermediate position with the tube frame spaced below the pullover shaft,

.Figvo is adiagrammatic view of a circuit which may be used in connection with myinvention and rendering necessary the presence of a tube frame in the transfer arm clutches, and

,Fig 'lis. arvvertical section through one of the clutches carried ,bythe transfer arm and setting forth the switch the which must b opento permit continue'd'loom operation, two of these switches being shown diagrammatically in Fi 16.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2,"I have shown a loom frame l0 having a lay L which is moved back and forth during loom operation by connections not shown but operating from a loom shaft II. In a three-shot Axminster loom shaft II wilt-make a rotation-every'thirdpick of the lay which-beats up the-double-p-icks of weft laid by a needle N. Front and back tuft cutters l2 and I3, respectively, are operated as usual by mechanism actuated by shaft I.

The loom operates with transporting chains, one of which is shown at l5, to move a series of tube frames one at a time to a transfer station under a pull-over shaft I6. The latter shaft has a sprocket which is rocked periodically to advance the transporting chains and move the tube frames to their transfer station. One of the tube frames is shown at |8 in Figs. 1, 4 and 5.

The mechanism for detaching the tube frames from the transporting chains includes a transfer arm on each side of the loom, but only one of the arms is shown. Arm 20 is pivoted on a support arm 2| secured to shaft 22 journaled for rotation on the loom frame. Arm 2| is lowered and then raised by a rod 23 during the tuft forming period in the loom cycle. A clutch 25 is pivoted at 26 to the forward end of transfer arm 20 and has the upper end thereof provided with a stud 21 on which is pivoted the forward end of a rocking rod 28. The latter is controlled by connector 29 and lever 30 to cause pivotal movement of the clutch with respect to the transfer arm at a time in the loom cycle after the tube frame is detached from the transporting chain.

In the normal running of the loom transfer arm 20 and rod 28 pperate to detach the tube frame at the transfer station under shaft |6 from the chains and move it from the full line position to the dotted line position, Fig. 1, after which rod 28 causes rocking of the clutch 25 to give the tube frame rolling-in movements such as are necessary for the formation of a tuft in the fabric being woven. The transfer arm 20 is then raised to return the tube frame to the transporting chains.

chains 2. blank space would be left in the side fabric F.

The loom shipper mechanism is shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and comprises a shipper handle pivoted at 36 to a fixed bracket 31. The lower end of the handle 35 is connected as at 38 to a link 39 the lower end of which is pivoted as at 40 to an arm 4| on a loom controlling shaft 42. A bell crank lever 43 moves about a fixed pivot 44 and has a stop screw 45 for engagement with the link 39 and is also connected to a descending rod 46 the lower end of which is attached to core 41 of a solenoid 48.

When the loom is running the shipper handle is in the position shown in Fig. 2 with the link 39 moved to the left, the'effect of which is to hold shaft 42 in such position as will effect continued loom operation. The solenoid 48 is not energized under these conditions and core 41 and rod 46 are in high position. Whenever the solenoid is energized, however, its core 41 is drawn downwardly the effect of which is to rock lever 43 in a clockwise direction about its pivot 44, see Fig. 2, and thereby cause the stop screw 45 to move the link 39 to the right, causing movement of the shipper handle to the left and also causing movement of arm 4| and shaft 42 to stop the loom.

The matter thus far described is of usual construction and of itself forms no part of my present invention. So long as the shipper handle 35 is in the running position shown in Fig. 2, shaft continues to rotate and shaft l6 moves periodically to advance tube frames one by one to the transfer station, but when solenoid 48 is energized the loom is stopped. I

In carrying my present invention into effect I provide electric means by which solenoid 48 is energized and the loom stopped if the tube frame fails to leave its transfer station. In carrying this feature of my invention into effect I secure a switch SC to the loom frame and provide it with an operating arm positioned for engagement with the support arm 2|. Switch SC is normally closed when the parts are in the full line position shown in Fig. 1, but when the tube frame and its transfer arm 29 move down to their proper position in a tuft forming operation :arm 55 is rocked to the left to open switch SC,

see the dotted line position in Fig. 1.

Shaft II has secured thereto a web 58 to which is secured a cam tappet 59 having an open space It is obvious that if the tube frame should fail to be detached from the transporting 69 between the ends 6| and 62 thereof. A second switch S0 is provided with a switch arm 66 for engagement with the tappet 59. Switch S0 is mounted on the loom frame and is normally open during the greater part of the loom cycle, being held in this position by engagement of the tappet 59 with switch arm 66. The open part of the tappet, however, arrives under the arm 66 at the stopping point in the loom cycle and effects closure of switch S0. This closure of switch S0 occurs a short time after the period in the loom cycle when switch SC is opened, provided transfer arm 20 is operating normally. Under normal running conditions, therefore, these switches are never closed simultaneously.

The circuit including the switches SC and SO and also the solenoid 48 is shown in Fig. 3. This circuit will remain open if the transfer arm 20 is operating properly, but if the transfer 'arm is held up by a tube frame which fails to leave transfer station, the circuit shown in Fig. 3 will be closed at the stopping point in the loom cycle and current will flow as follows: transformer T, wire 69, switch S0, wire 10, binding post II of switch SC, switch SC, wire 12, solenoid 48, wire 13, ground G, and wire 14 back to the transformer. This circuit is completed when switch S0 closes and switch SC remains closed, and the resultant energization of solenoid 48 causes loom stoppage. When this circuit is not completed at the stopping point in the cycle the loom contween the adjacent ends of rugs it is desirable to prevent the tube frame in active or transfer position from moving downwardly to tuft forming position and to accomplish this result I provide the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 4. A hook is rotatable on a rod 8| fixed to a bracket 82 mounted on the loom frame. This hook has a finger 83 which can move under the transfer arm 20 as indicated in full lines in Fig. 4, but the hook is ordinarily held away from arm 20 in the dotted line position shown in that figure by means of a torsion spring 85 surrounding the rod 8| and acting to turn the hook in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4. The hook is provided with a handle 86 located normally in the dotted line position of Fig. 4.

Control mechanism for the pull-over shaft is designated generally at C in Fig. 4 and may comprise an arm 90 secured to a tube 9| and having a lever 92 pivoted thereto at 93. A rod 94 connected to the upper end of lever 92 may be connected in any approved manner to mechshaft |6 from its driving mechanism not shown.

aeoaoos I have indicated the mechanism merely as one means for permitting the pull-over shaft to remain stationary during the weaving of a. heading. mechanism of itself forms no part of my present invention and may if desired :be made according to Patents Nos. 1,472,459 to Clark or 1,553,558 to Ryon.

When a heading is to be woven handle 85 will be moved fromthe dotted line position'to the full line position shown in Fig. 4 againstthe action of spring 85, thereby moving the hook finger 83 under transfer arm 20. The hook finger is so located that it will arrest downward movement of the transfer arm at an intermediate point, such as that indicatedin Fig. 5, with the tube frame fully detached from its transporting chains but too high to form tufts in the fabric. When in this intermediate position the clutch may have its usual rocking movements with respect to the transfer arm, moving from the full line position to the dotted line position of Fig. 5.

When weaving a heading it is necessary for the loom to continue running and the switch SC must therefore be open when the tube frame is held in its intermediate position'by the hook 88. result is accomplished by having the switch SC so constructed that its arm 55 will be moved far enough by support arm 2| to open switch SC when arm 2| moves with the transfer arm to the intermediate position shown in Fig. 5. This con- This ' ing.

dition is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

Switch SC is moved to the full line open position shown in Fig. 3 when the tube frame moves all the way down to tuft forming position. It will thus be seen that whether the tube frame and its transfer arm are held in their intermediate position by the hook, or move down to their tuft form'- ing position. switch SC will be open to prevent closure of the circuit shown in Fig. 3 and permitcontinued loom running. If, on the other hand,-

the tube frame should fail to reach either its low or intermediate position at the stopping point in the loom cycle, the circuit will be closed and the loom stopped.

Conditions necessitating the presence of the tube frame in the transfer arms are set forth in Figs. 6 and '7. These conditions are described in prior Patent No. 2,306,303 to Daceyjand are rhown herein merely to indicate why a tube frame rhould be in th transfer arms when the loom is running. The clutch 26 as shown in Fig. '7 has a spring plunger I00 normally closing a contact llll when there is no tube frame in the clutch. When a tube frame is present, however, the plunger is depressed to open contact llll. There may be another similar contact I0 I at the opposite side of the loom, and these contacts are related to a control circuit shown in Fig. 6, wherein the solenoid I02 performs the same function as does solenoid 48 and acts to stop the loom when energized. A switch I03 will be closed at some time subsequent to the normal time in the cycle of the loom when the tube frame should be in the clutches and effect opening of the contacts I01 and 101'.

It will be apparent from Fig. 6 that if either clutch switch lfll or I!!! should fail to open the source m4 of electric power will energize the solenoid I02 when switch I03 is closed. If the tube frame were taken out of the clutches when weaving a heading switches Hll and I0! would not be opened, and it is because of the necessary presence of the tube frame in the clutches that the hook 811 is used. It should be understood that i the support arms 2| at each end of the loom are both secured to shaft 22, hence-a single hook'r'fifl in intermediate position. r i

From the foregoing it will be seen that ,I' have provided simple means by which electrically .actu-: ated stopping means may be controlled by the tube fram transfer mechanism of an AXminster loom. A normally closed switch SC is opened when the transfer arm 20 moves down normally in a tuft forming operation, thereby permitting continuedloom operation. If switch SC is not opened at the stopping point in the loom cycle, the loom will be stopped. The switch S0 controlled by the turningof shaft 1 I is so timed that the circuit shown in Fig. 3 cannot be closed until after the normal time in the loom cycle for open-.

is sufiicient to hold both ends of the tube frame" ing of switch SC. It will also be seen that the switch S0 will be open even though the transfer arm 21] is held in the intermediate position shown in Fig. 5, thereby permitting continued running of the loom when it is desiredto weave a head- It will further be seen that the rocking movements ofithe clutch indicated in Fig. 5 can occur while the hook 89 holds the arm 26 in intermediate position without disturbing the open condition of switch SC. 1 Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications maybe made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

. 1. In an Axminster loom having a tubeframe transfer arm which moves downwardly during a. transfer period in the loom cycle, electromagnetic loom stopping mechanism operative when ener'-' gized to stop the loom, a normally open electric switch, a normally closed electric switch normally opened at a given point in said period by said transfer arm as the latter moves to tuft form-'.

ing position, means operative subsequent to said point in the transfer period to close said normally open switch, and electric means operative when both of said switches are closed to energize said electromagnetic stopping mechanism.

2. In an Axminster loom having a tube frame transfer arm which moves downwardly during a transfer period in the loom cycle, electromagnetic loom stopping mechanism operative when energized to stop the loom, a-normally open electric switch, a normally closed electric switch normally opened at a given point in said period by said transfer arm as the latter moves to tuft forming position, a shaft turning in timed relation with said cycle, means moved by said shaft to close said normally open switch subsequent to said point in-said transfer period, and electric means operative when both of said switches are closed to energize said electromagnetic stopping mechamsm.

3. In an Axminster loom having a tube frame transfer arm which moves downwardly during a transfer period in the m cycle, electromagnetic loom stopping mechanism operative when energized to stop the loom, a normally open electric switch, a normally closed electric switch under said arm and opened by the latter normally at a given point in said transfer period, means operative subsequent to said point in said transfer period to close said normally open switch, and electric means operative when both of said switches are closed to energize said electromagnetic stopping mechanism.

4. In an Axminster loom having a tube frame transfer arm which moves downwardly during a transfer period in the loom cycle, electromagnetic loom stopping mechanism operative when energized to stop the loom, a normally open electric switch, a normally closed electric switch under said arm and opened by the latter normally at a given point in said transfer period, a shaft turning in timed relation with said cycle, means moved by said shaft to close said normally open switch subsequent to said point in said transfer period, and electric means operative when both of said switches are closed to energize said electromagnetic stopping mechanism.

5. In an Axminster loom having a tube frame arm which has a descending stroke from a transfer station to tuft forming position during a transfer period occurring in the loom cycle, electromagnetic loom stopping means which when energized effects loom stoppage, mechanism to arrest downward movement of said transfer arm at an intermediate point in said stroke, a normally closed electric switch opened by said transfer arm when the latter is at said intermediate point, a normally open electric switch, means closing said normally open switch subsequent to arrival of said transfer arm at said intermediate point, and electric means to energize said stopping means when both of said switches are closed.

6. In an Axminster loom having a tube frame moving downwardly from a transfer station either to an intermediate position or to a tuft forming position below the intermediate position, electromagnetic loom stopping means operative when energized to effect loom stoppage, a normally closed switch opened by said transfer arm when the latter is in either tuft forming position or said intermediate position, a normally open electric switch, means closing the latter switch subsequent to the normal time for arrival of the arm at either said intermediate or tuft forming positions, and electric means to energize said stopping means when both of said switches are closed.

7. In an Axminster loom having a tube frame moving downwardly from a transfer station either to an intermediate position when the loom is weaving a heading or to a tuft forming position below the intermediate position when the loom is weaving tufted fabric, electromagnetic loom stopping means operative when energized to effect loom stoppage, a normally closed switch opened by said transfer arm when the latter is in either tuft forming position or said intermediate position, a normally open electric switch, means closing the latter switch subsequent to the normal time for arrival of the arm at either said intermediate or tuft forming positions, and electric means to energize said stopping means when both of said switches are closed.

8. In an Axminster loom having a tube frame transfer arm which moves downwardly during a transfer period in the loom cycle, electromagnetic loom stopping mechanism operative when energized to stop the loom, a normally open electric switch, means operating recurrently during loom operation to close said switch only at a given point in said period, a normally closed electric switch positioned to be opened by said transfer arm prior to said point when said arm is operating normally, said normally closed switch remaining closed if unopened by said transfer arm at said given point in said period, and means including said electromagnetic stopping mechanism, a source of electric energy, and said switches and constituting an electric circuit which is closed and energizes said electromagnetic stopping mechanism if both of said switches are closed at said point in said period.

9. In an Axminster loom having a transfer arm and tube frame unit normally moving downwardly during a transfer period from a transfer station either to an intermediate position at a given point in said period when the loom is weaving a heading or to a tuft forming position below said intermediate position at a later point in said period when the loom is weaving tufted fabric, electromagnetic stopping means operative when energized to effect loom stoppage, a normally closed switch opened by said unit by the time the latter reaches said intermediate position in a normal transfer period whether said unit remains at said intermediate position or continues to said tuft forming position, said switch remaining closed if said unit fails to reach said intermediate position, a normally open electric switch, means closing said switch subsequent to the normal time of arrival of said unit at said intermediate position, and electric means caused to energize said stopping means if both of said switches are closed at either of said points in said period.

WALTER Y. ROBB. 

